Writing

Bachelor of Arts

Marian M. MacCurdy, Professor and Chair

The Department of Writing offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to foster clarity and creativity in expression, as well as to develop expertise in various writing styles and genres. It provides instruction in first-year writing for all entering students, advanced study in expository, creative, and professional writing, and a 21-credit minor for students in diverse disciplines. The B.A. in writing, with its self-designed concentration, offers serious writers guidance and experience in a range of genres. The major, which blends practice and theory, prepares students for graduate study, professional positions, and careers in writing.

Writing Center

The Department of Writing operates the writing center, located in Roy H. Park Hall. It offers individual and small group tutorials on a referred or self-selected basis to students needing assistance in any stage of the writing process. Other services include help with reading comprehension and study skills and refining English skills for nonnative speakers.

Writing Resource Rooms

The Department of Writing's networked computer classrooms, located in 313 and 314 Williams Hall and 103 Friends Hall, are open evenings and weekends to all students. They are staffed by student consultants who provide tutorial help in writing as well as in computer use. Facilities include reference books, laser printers, scanners, and a variety of software, including publishing and design applications.

Stillwater

The Department of Writing offers a special opportunity to students interested in writing and graphic arts to publish twice yearly a magazine of poetry, prose, photography, and art -- Stillwater. The magazine is staffed by student volunteers who make editorial selections and do layout, publicity, and production. Submissions are open to the entire College community.

Writing Contest

Each spring the Department of Writing conducts a writing contest open to all Ithaca College students. Entries are accepted in each of the following categories: first-year essay, expository essay, journalistic essay, personal essay, prose fiction, poetry, humor, and scriptwriting.

Requirements for the Major in Writing -- B.A.

Credits in the major

377-16500

Introduction to the Essay

3

377-17500

Introduction to Creative Writing

3

377-20500

Personal Essay

3

377-20100

Persuasive Argument

3

One of the following

377-32000

Public Essay

377-33600

Fiction II*

377-33800

Poetry II*

3

* Note that Fiction II has a prerequisite of Fiction I, Poetry II a prerequisite of Poetry I, and Poetics a prerequisite of either Fiction I or Poetry I.

One of the following

377-36000

Composition Theory

377-36500

Poetics*

3

Required level-4 courses

377-41000

Senior Project

3

377-41500

Senior Seminar

3

Writing electives

Five writing electives, of which no more than 3 credits may be at level 1 and at least 9 credits must be above level 2

15

Total credits in the major

39

Required concentration in writing -- Students must also complete an individually designed concentration in writing, consisting of five courses at level 2 or above. These courses are drawn from both writing requirements and electives (exclusive of 377-20500 Personal Essay and 377-20100 Persuasive Argument). The concentration is planned in conjunction with the student's adviser and must be approved by the department's major committee.

Credits outside the major

Required outside field: All writing majors must complete an outside field that complements their writing concentration: an existing minor in another department (18-21 credits) or an individually designed outside field (minimum 18 credits, with at least 9 credits above level 1). For students with a double major, the other major counts as the outside field. The outside field is planned in conjunction with the student's adviser and must be approved by the department's major committee.

Required language: All writing majors must complete study of a language other than English through the first semester of the intermediate level (0-9 credits) or demonstrate equivalent proficiency. An acceptable substitute for this requirement is one semester of formal study abroad in a country where the language predominantly spoken is not English.

Total credits outside the major

18-30

Total credit for the major

57-69

Total open electives

51-63

Total, B.A. in writing

120

Minor in Writing

Requirements for the minor in writing

377-10600

Academic Writing I or

377-11000

Academic Writing II or

377-15000

Affiliate to Introduction to Film Aesthetics and Analysis or

377-15100

Affiliate to Script Analysis for the Theater or

377-16500

Introduction to the Essay

3

377-20100

Persuasive Argument

3

377-20500

Personal Essay

3

From the writing courses listed below, either

Six credits in exposition (3 credits at level 3 or above) and 3 credits in creative writing or

Six credits in creative writing (3 credits at level 3 or above) and 3 credits in exposition

9

Electives within the writing department

3

Total required for the minor

21

Exposition

377-22500

Grammar, Usage, and Style

377-31800

Writing from Cultural Experience

377-31900

Writing as a Naturalist

377-32000

Public Essay

377-33100

Feature Writing

377-34000

Magazine Writing

377-34200

Writing about Sports

377-34500

Writing as a Critic

377-35000/ 377-35200

Special topics courses

377-38000

Writers' Workshop

377-42000

Apprenticeship

377-45000

Internship

377-49800

Independent Study

Creative writing

377-17500

Introduction to Creative Writing

377-23600

Fiction Writing I: Short Story

377-23800

Poetry Writing I

377-30100

Autobiography

377-30500

Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

377-31000

Women and Writing

377-32500

Writing Children's Literature

377-33400

Humorous Writing

377-33600

Fiction Writing II

377-33800

Poetry Writing II

377-35400/ 377-35600

Special topics courses

377-38000

Writers' Workshop

377-49900

Independent Study

All writing courses in the minor should be taken in the Department of Writing or at the Ithaca College London Center. Exceptions: students who receive course-specific transfer credit (377-10600 or 377-11000) for first-year composition and transfer students with 377-1xxxx or 377-2xxxx credit from another institution may count up to 6 generic writing credits toward the writing minor.

Additional requirements for the minor

1. All writing courses must be taken for a grade to count toward the minor. One level-1 composition course (377-10600 through 377-16500) must be completed with B- or better. Any student receiving below B- in 377-10600, 377-15000, 377-15100, or 377-16500 must take 377-11000 and receive at least a B- in that course to qualify for the writing minor. Writing courses at level 2 or above must be completed with a C or better.

2. No more than two level-1 courses will count toward the writing minor.

3. Minors must take 6 of their 21 writing credits at level 3 or above.

4. Students may count toward the writing minor no more than 3 credits each in any one of the following courses: 377-42000 Apprenticeship, 377-45000 Internship, or 377-49800/377-49900 Independent Study (Exposition/Creative Writing). A maximum of 6 credits from among these courses may be applied toward the writing minor.

5. Up to 6 credits in the writing minor may overlap with a student's writing requirements in a major.

General Information for All Students in Writing Courses

Students can receive course-specific credit for 377-11000 Academic Writing II by receiving both a score of 4 or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Language and Composition or Literature and Composition examination, and a score of 1 or 2 on the Department of Writing placement test. Students enrolled in the School of Humanities and Sciences may not apply that course-specific credit toward fulfilling the focused curricular choice component of the general education requirement.

An affiliated course (377-15000 or 377-15100) is considered equivalent to 377-10600 Academic Writing I, either as a prerequisite to other courses or as a requirement in other departments. Students will receive credit for only one of these three courses.

Note: Students wishing to enroll in a course for which they have not completed the prerequisites must receive permission of the instructor.